By Dave Okpogadie
Erstwhile minister of education and frontline governorship aspirant in Delta State, Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi, has called for a one year interruption period of the operational license of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos State.
The call is coming on the heels of alleged gruesome murder of Sylvester Oromoni Jnr, by suspected cultists in the school.
The former minister who said he has been in pain since the unfortunate killing of Oromoni, said the embargo on the school would bring back sense of responsibility to the school authority.
The security expert said he is grieved to see that Nigerians are not willing to accept responsibility for their carelessness.
The Criminologist insisted that the operational license of Dowen College be placed on hold for a period of one year for the school authority to feel the impact of their thoughtlessness.
He equally advocated that at the end of the one year, a thorough screening be carried out on the management of the school to ascertain their ability to receive boarding students.
He said from his investigation into the matter, it has been a long time practice of students who come from different homes and family upbringing, hence the onus lies on the school management to do the job of appointing competent house-masters to monitor not more than 15 students in a hostel.
According to him, the school failed to appoint competent house-masters to run the hostels, saying that the teacher who reportedly resigned, on the probability that he might not want to be called for questioning, must be sanctioned and not allowed into institution of learning in Nigeria.
While reiterating that the teacher be punished, he stated that such teacher is not qualified to work anywhere in Nigeria.
Addressing parent and guardians, he said parents should take extra steps and allow their children speak to them and ask the children questions regarding their situation in school. This, in his view, would help to avoid situations as this.
He called on parents whose children are still in the school to take precautions, saying: “We should not send our children to school for them to be killed.
He said he is making efforts to reach out to Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Lagos state commissioner for education, saying the governor and the commissioner both have responsibilities to carry out in the issue on ground.
He insisted that the school must remain sealed until all the issues and investigations are fully carried out and justice done.
Gbagi called for a heart-to-heart talk with the parents of Sylvester Oromoni Jnr so as to assuage their pains and calm frayed nerves noting that as a parent, he shares in their pains and griefs.
The guber aspirant commiserated with the parents for the loss of Sylvester Oromoni Jnr.
It would be recalled that Sylvester Oromoni Jnr. was allegedly killed by five students in the school last week. It was further gathered the deceased listed their names before giving up the ghost.
